US Open: Emma Raducanu OUT as Carlos Alcaraz overcomes scare

Emma Raducanu broke down in tears in her post-match press conference after suffering another humbling first round defeat at the US Open.

“I feel down, I feel sad,” she sobbed. “Obviously, this is a tournament I really want to do well in.”

Click HERE to read Raducanu's post-match press conference.

Sofia Kenin, who has knocked out Emma Raducanu, has reacted to her win on Tuesday.

"It was a rollercoaster match," Kenin said afterwards. "Emma is such a tough player and she played some great tennis. I'm just super happy to have won."

Emma Raducanu's US Open dream is over for another year - she's lost 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to Sofia Kenin.

But Carlos Alcaraz is through! The 2022 winner overcame a scare against Li Tu to win 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Carlos Alcaraz has won the third set 6-4 against Li Tu to go 2-1 up in the match.

Emma Raducanu, meanwhile, is a break down in her deciding set against Sofia Kenin.

Emma Raducanu has won the second set 6-3 in her first-round clash with Sofia Kenin, while Carlos Alcaraz's match with Li Tu is level at 2-2 in the third set.

Emma Raducanu's campaign isn't going well...

The British favourite lost the first set 6-1 in her clash with Sofia Kenin, with the second set level at 2-2.

Elsewhere...

Li Tu has WON the second set 6-4 against Carlos Alcaraz.

Could an early upset be on the cards?

Carlos Alcaraz has won the first set 6-2 in his clash with Li Tu.

It's currently 3-3 in the second set, but the 2022 champion won't mind that too much.

Dan Evans won the longest match in US Open history after staging an incredible comeback in the fifth and final set.

“It was a hell of a match,” he said. “Now I just want to go to bed.”

Dan Evans has won the longest US Open match in history.

The Brit, 34, defeated Karen Khachanov 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the second round at Flushing Meadows. The match was longest in US Open history, lasting a staggering five hours and 35 minutes.

Jack Draper has spoken out about his victory - admitting he's relieved after all of the recent drama he was involved in.

“After the other Grand Slams, it's kind of a nice feeling to maybe to have one that was a little bit easier, and hopefully can settle me in,” he said.

“Obviously it was a bit of a storm last week, definitely when I played three tough matches there, and then obviously the next match I lost against Holger Rune, I wasn't all there.

“I was not only physically tired, but a bit mentally sort of bamboozled by the night before. It definitely took a few days to physically recover from that weekend, mentally and emotionally and all those sort of things.

“And in the last couple of days, I feel like I've sort of freshened up and my mindsets on competing here, and I think today, I know he got injured, but I was ready to play my best tennis out there.

“And, I felt really, really good about myself. So is there a bit of relief that you feel that.

“I feel good the last couple of days just getting rid of tthose feelings and sort of moving on.”

British men's No.1 Jack Draper won earlier this evening after his opponent retired mid-match with a knee injury.

The 25th seed was playing Chinese No.1 Zhang Zhizhen who called it quits as the Briton led 6-3 6-0 4-0.

Naomi Osaka was moved to tears after beating world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko.

The two-time US Open champion played her first match at the American Grand Slam for two years today.

And she could not hide her emotions afterwards.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is OUT in the first round in a huge shock.

The Greek 11th seed losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis in four sets.

The Australian sealed it 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Danielle Collins was NOT happy about her defeat.

The American, 30, stormed straight off court and snubbed a farewell ceremony despite tournament director Stacey Allaster standing by with a bouquet.

At her final ever Grand Slam, retiring American Danielle Collins is out in the first round.

It's a sorry way to go out for the former world No.7.

British No.1 Katie Boulter is into round two after beating Aliaksandra Sasnovich 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Boulter told Sky Sports after: "It's not easy coming out here playing the first round against someone who has been top 30. She knows how to play tennis. I knew it was going to be a battle, she's played three matches on these courts.

"I feel like I came out really well but she responded quickly in the first set. I didn't quite get over that line. I just tried to reset and play a better second and third.

"I'm super proud of the way I managed to stay in there and bring some good levels to the court. When you haven't played that many matches on this surface, sometimes you forget that just breathing and taking your time makes a difference.

"I think it's pretty key for me and I found that rhythm second and third. Credit to her, she played very well. It felt very fast today. She was going after her shots a lot.

"I felt quite under pressure the whole time and I felt I had to respond quicker. The atmosphere definitely makes a big difference to how it plays. I'm glad I could adapt quite quickly today."

Harriet Dart says her mum Susie will never coach her full-time on tour... because she prefers to be at home with their cockapoo Lennie.

Londoner Dart reached her career-high ranking by winning her opening match at the US Open with former county player and now schoolteacher Susie as her stand-in coach.

Dart, 28, is coached at home by Russian Olga Morovoza and said “It’s been nice to have my mum here, she knows me really well. Different dynamic, that’s for sure.

“We’ve only had one argument so that’s good. It’s just little things and I think it’s easier when it’s your mum because two minutes later you’re all fine.

"I was just joking with her and said we’ve got a quite good record, maybe you want to come a bit more. She would never leave our family dog.

“The dog is No.1, definitely, out of all of us - she’s missing him dearly.”

Heartbreak for Zhang Shuai.

The Chinese player who won the US Open doubles title in 2021 has extended her losing streak in singles to 23 matches.

She hasn't won since January 2023 but secured the first set 6-0 in New York against Ashlyn Krueger.

Krueger won 0-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Tim Henman and Naomi Broady have both picked Alexander Zverev as their favourite to win the men's US Open title.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Broady revealed she's “gone left-field” by picking the German to win his first ever Grand Slam.

Explaining why she doesn't fancy Jannik Sinner to win, she said: “It’s a hard question to answer, why’ve you not picked the world No.1 and Australian Open champion [to win it]? I think there’s just been stuff going on off court obviously.

“He’s potentially going to be distracted by that. He’s had the injuries and illnesses to contend with as well this year. I didn’t know what form he was going to be in when I made my pick and I can’t change it, although he did then go and win Cincinnati!

“I just feel like the strength in depth in men’s tennis is so strong now and it feels wide open. This year more than any you feel potentially somebody else, not the big three, could win it.

“Surely Zverev who has won more ATP matches than anyone else this year, is going to be the guy?”

While Henman said: “I didn’t pick Sinner because of his hip in Cincinnati. We were right by the side of the court and he looked really uncomfortable between so many points.

“When you think then coming into a Grand Slam, best of five set matches, over two weeks. Seven victories he’d need. I think it’s unlikely.

“Then you add into it that he’s tested positive for an illegal substance and been through that whole process which he’s been cleared of, that’s going to be a distraction and has been a massive talking point within our sport.

“I think Zverev is a little bit off-piste as a pick but I think he’s going to get one eventually.”

So Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner are among the highlights on day two if the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Play is set to get underway in about 20 minutes time.

FULL SCHEDULE HERE.

Tim Henman has backed Emma Raducanu's decision not to play in qualifiers in Toronto or Cincinnati

She was denied a wildcard into either event, leaving her short of match practice for the final Grand Slam of the year, but Henman argued the lack of match practice won't hamper her.

“There's no rush to play tournaments," he told SKy Sports. "She's still only 21 because she's been around for so long but when she had the surgeries, two on her wrists and one on her foot, that was actually a blessing in disguise.

“It gave her a step back to look at her general fitness and resilience to build the foundation and compete on tour. When you look at the events that she's played, she's played some great tennis.”

READ MORE HERE.

Former US Open champion Andy Murray has reacted on social media after plans for a tennis centre near his hometown of Dunblane were scrapped over planning issues and rising costs.

The £20m project, led by his mother Judy Murray, aimed to build a community multi-sport facility at Park of Keir to mark the tennis legacy of the Murray family.

Murray posted "What a surprise" on X after learning of the news.

Defending champion Coco Gauff has said a TikTok message from her fan has inspired her at Flushing Meadows.

Gauff beat Varvara Gracheva 6-2 6-0 win in her first round match, and said afterwards: "Somebody commented on my TikTok and they were like, ‘You’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap.’

“I’m treating this tournament like that. If you defend something, that means you won something. If you did it, you can do it again."

Emma Raducanu could open the door to play in more WTA events if she beats Sofia Kenin tonight.

Her current No.67 ranking will improve immensely if she can make the second round at Flushing Meadows. Victory will take her close to the world's top 50.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are the favourites to land the men's singles US Open title at Flushing Meadows, according to BetMGM.

The pair are 15/8 on to win a fourth Slam title, with Aryna Sabalenka the women's singles favourite at 2/1.

Men’s singles: Carlos Alcaraz 15/8, Novak Djokovic 15/8, Jannik Sinner 3/1, Alexander Zverev 5/1, Daniil Medvedev 16/1.

Women’s singles: Aryna Sabalenka 2/1, Coco Gauff 7/2, Elene Rybakina 8/1, Jessica Pegula 13/1, Mirra Andreeva 22/1.

Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of the legendary Rafael Nadal, has defended Jannik Sinner over his doping controversy.

“It is absolutely clear to me that the Italian player does not want to commit any infraction, and even more so, not to seek any advantage through the use of prohibited substances," Nadal said.

“I know the player well enough to say without doubt that he is one of the most correct and well-mannered guys on the circuit. For me it is unthinkable that he's act in an unfair manner.”

US Open bosses were forced to abandon one of their show courts on the first day of the tournament.

Laura Robson, who was due to play on Court No.9 before being moved, explained: “It’s because, due to the heat and humidity, after they resurfaced the court about two-and-a-half weeks ago out on Court 9, it started to bubble up.

“And initially that wasn’t an issue, it was playing the same as all the other surfaces. But then the bubbles get bigger. And so late on Thursday night, after qualifying finished, I was out there and I was like, ‘They’re resurfacing the court, how bizarre.’”

READ MORE HERE.

Yoshihito Nishioka was forced to pull out of his US Open match against Miomir Kecmanovic after collapsing to the ground in New York.

The Japanese player could be seen receiving treatment from medics after falling ill during the fifth set of their match. He was eventually taken away in a wheelchair after being forced to retire, giving Kecmanovic the victory.

READ MORE HERE.

Harriet Dart hailed her mum's influence after she served as her stand-in coach at the US Open.

Dart is up to world No.66 in the live rankings after outclassing French wildcard Chloe Pacquet 6-1 6-2 in the first round.

“It’s been nice to have my mum here, she knows me really well,” she said. “Different dynamic, that’s for sure. We’ve only had one argument so that’s good. It’s just little things and I think it’s easier when it’s your mum because two minutes later you’re all fine."

READ MORE HERE.

Novak Djokovic has hailed Flushing Meadows after Monday drew a US Open record of 74,641 spectators, according to the US Tennis Association.

"The night sessions here are best in the world," said Djokovic, after beating Radu Albot.

"There's an incredible energy, and with the new rule this year that the crowd can move around, there are a lot of things happening."

Emma Raducanu has warned rivals she is rejuvenated ahead of her clash with Sofia Kenin tonight.

"I’ve been playing a lot freer in the last month, I’ve been expressing myself and I’ve been fighting, there’s been a lot of passion and I’ve been feisty,” she told Sky Sports.

“I just feel a real fire back and a desire. That is me, I’m really tenacious and gritty, and I feel like I’ve got my spark back, which is what I’m most pleased about.”

Novak Djokovic was simply too good for Radu Albot on Monday, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

The biggest upset of the day was Holger Rune, the 15th seed, losing in straight sets to Brandon Nakashima.

Elsewhere, Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman lost in their final Grand Slam appearances, while 16-year-old Iva Jovic won her match in straight sets.

Hard to see Novak Djokovic losing this from here...

The defending champion has won the second set against Radu Albot 6-2 and is on his way to a routine win.

Or will there be a late twist?

Novak Djokovic has won his first set against Radu Albot 6-2.

AND... 16-year-old Iva Jovic has beaten Magda Linette in straight sets! Is Jovic a future champion at Flushing Meadows?

Sloane Stephens won her first NINE games tonight... but she's out!

Clara Burel has knocked out the former champion with a superb 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 win. What a comeback!

Christopher Eubanks has been knocked out of the US Open by Arthur Rinderknech in a classic first-round encounter.

The Frenchman won 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(8).

Andrey Rublev awaits in the second round...

Solane Stephens has just lost the second set to Clara Burel 7-5 - we're going to a decider!

Elsewhere...

Barbora Krejcikova has beaten Marina Bassols Ribera in straight sets, while Emma Navarro has recorded the same result against Anna Blinkova.

Holger Rune is out of the US Open after losing in straight sets to Brandon Nakashima!

Sloane Stephens, meanwhile, has won the first set 6-0 against Clara Burel.

Stay tuned as we'll have updates on Novak Djokovic's first-round match against Radu Albot.

Elsewhere...

Christopher Eubanks has gone 2-1 up against Arthur Rinderknech, while Holger Rune is TWO sets down to Brandon Nakashima!

Lorenzo Musetti has recovered from 4-1 down in the fourth set to beat American Reilly Opelka 7-6, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Diego Schwartzman is OUT of the US Open after losing in four sets to Gael Monfils - 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.

That's expected to Schwartzman final appearance in a Grand Slam.

Coco Gauff got her US Open title defence off to a great start as she beat Varvara Gracheva 6-2 6-0 in the day session on Monday. Afterwards, she confessed that just a week ago, she wouldn't have expected to feel this way on the court.

Gauff went 1-2 in matches across the WTA 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. But she has since changed her perspective on being the reigning champion in Flushing Meadows.

"Perspective. I think just realising that there's probably more pressure on, I don't know, maybe trying to win one than maybe defending one, I guess, I don't know. I actually just put perspective," she explained.

"The last couple of weeks were tough, and I was, like, I have to do this and do that, but I don't have to prove anything to anyone except myself. So this whole week or two weeks are just about proving all the expectations that I have on myself."

Diego Schwartzman is making likely his last Grand Slam appearance at the US Open.

The former world No. 8 will retire on home soil in Argentina in February.

His ranking has slipped outside of the top 200 and he failed to qualify for the other three Majors this year. But he came through qualifying to reach the US Open main draw and is in action against Gael Monfils in the first round.

Ahead of the tournament, 32-year-old Schwartzman admitted that he wanted to end things on his own terms.

“I’m making the decision to stop,” Schwartzman told the ATP. “I’m very happy with that. No injury, no nothing. Okay, I decided to because I'm tired, because I'm feeling like I cannot be the competitor I've been before.

“And for me, it's great. Now playing the main draw in the last Grand Slam, after three qualies I lost this year in the Grand Slams, it's good.”

Jan Choinski was the first Brit in action at this year's US Open. The world No. 276 came through qualifying to reach the main draw.

After dropping the first set, he mounted a comeback to force a decider against Roberto Carballes Baena.

But the world No. 55 ultimately came through 6-2 6-3 5-7 6-7(5) 6-3.

Dominic Thiem has played his final Grand Slam match, losing to Ben Shelton in the opening round. The 30-year-old previously announced that he would retire at the end of the season.

Thiem won his only Major title at the 2020 US Open - a tournament played behind closed doors in the height of the Covid pandemic. But he finally got to address a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd after losing to Shelton in straight sets.

He said: "It’s actually a really important moment for me because I’ve had my greatest success of my career here on this court in this weird 2020 under very strange and different circumstances and unfortunately I had this success without any of you so that was of course at one point a really amazing moment but on the other hand also pretty sad.

"So I’m super happy that I got the chance to play my last US Open, my last match here on this court and I can spend now some time with you guys just to say thank you to all of you and to make the time up for what we have missed four years ago."

After dropping the opening set to Amanda Anisimova, Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng survived a tough test to advance to the second round of the US Open.

The No. 7 seed was in some trouble early on. But she recovered and won 4-6 6-4 6-2. She will now face Erica Andreeva.

Novak Djokovic will headline the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on day one of the US Open. The second seed is the defending champion in Flushing Meadows.

This is his first tournament since he won a long-awaited gold medal at the Olympics earlier this month. Ahead of the US Open, Djokovic said he never wanted to "recover" from his Olympic success.

“I hope to never recover from that [Olympic triumph], because it's the best set of feelings that I ever had as an athlete,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion told Eurosport. “On the court but also off, when we went back to celebrate with our people, all of the Serbian Olympians that managed to win a medal.”

Qinwen Zheng, who won the gold medal in women's singles at the Olympics earlier this month, finds herself in trouble in her opening match at the US Open.

The seventh seed has lost the first set of her clash with in-form Amanda Anisimova over on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

American star Anisimova took it 6-4 in under an hour.

No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari was forced to retire after losing the first set of her opening-round match against Yafan Wang.

The Greek star was seen by the physio for a shoulder injury twice before forfeiting the match while 2-6 down.

Two Brits will be starting their US Open campaigns on Monday.

Jan Choinski, the world No. 276 who came through qualifying, faces Roberto Carballes Baena first on Court 16.

British No. 3 Harriet Dart takes on France's Chloe Paquet in the third match on the same court.

2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem is gearing up to play the last Grand Slam tournament of his career.

Earlier this year, the former world No. 3 announced that he would retire at the end of the season, aged 30.

He has drawn 13th seed Ben Shelton in the first round. They will face off at 5pm UK time on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Thiem picked up a wrist injury in June 2021 and has never been able to return to the top of the game since. Ahead of the US Open, he told The Athletic: "There wasn’t a particular moment I decided (to retire) but towards the end of last year I was working hard, putting in a lot of hours, doing a good job, giving it my all, and the steps in the right direction were just not satisfying for me."

Emma Raducanu is back in New York for the US Open.

Flushing Meadows was the scene of her remarkable Grand Slam triumph in 2021.

And the Briton is in first-round action tomorrow (Tuesday) as she faces a tough test against Sofia Kenin.

Carlos Alcaraz says his biggest tennis fear is injury.

The Spaniard has come into the US Open with a minor foot problem which affected his training sessions.

"What I fear the most will always be injuries,” Alcaraz said.

Anything can happen, but we try to take care of ourselves to prevent it. The forearm injury worried me a lot - I didn't know if I would recover well. I have managed to play again without fear, but anything can happen.”

The US Open gets underway today and there are several top players in action on Day One.

Action begins at 4pm with the first round of Monday's matches.

The likes of Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini and Holger Rune are all in action today.

Jack Draper insists it is ‘weird’ not having Andy Murray around at the US Open.

The 22-year-old is Britain’s hope for Grand Slam success following Murray’s retirement at the Olympics.

“It seems a bit weird not having Andy there with his rancid, stinking shoes next to me in the locker room,” Draper joked. “Andy's shoes would always be drying out next to me with his wedding ring on them.

“I’ve been next to him in the locker room and you'd have his shoes, his wet grips – ‘Give me some space to sit down!’ But I do miss his presence a lot. I feel a responsibility to really play good tennis and be the British No 1.

“We miss Andy but things have to come to an end and hopefully I can keep on going and the other players as well.”

That is despite Emma Raducanu clumsily suggesting Murray was ‘old news’.

She said: “It doesn’t feel different at all. Tennis is unforgiving in that sense. No matter who you are, it just moves on. There is always another match, there is always another tournament.

“Of course Andy has achieved amazing things and I watched him win this tournament (in 2012) but it is a fast pace, just like life is. It’s old news the next day kind of thing.”

Liam Broady has mocked an interview conducted by Jannik Sinner.

The Italian was cleared of wrongdoing despite testing positive for a banned substance in March.

Sinner, who has always maintained his innocence, insists that he has not been treated any differently to other players on tour.

But Broady wrote:“Not treated differently from other players but gets curated, presidential sit-down interviews with ESPN to maintain image.

"Where’s this energy for everybody else? Never seen anything like this.”

Novak Djokovic has arrived at the US Open with a snazzy golden holdall.

The bag presumably commemorates his gold medal triumph at the Olympics earlier this month.

Djokovic insisted that his victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Paris was his greatest sporting achievement.

Novak Djokovic insists he wants to make more history after winning gold at the Olympics.

The 37-year-old extended his lead as tennis’s most decorated Grand Slam player by winning his 24th title a year ago.

But Djokovic is hungry for more.

“People would ask me, you know, now that you have basically won everything with the golden medal, what else is there to win?” the Serb said.

“I still feel the drive. You know, I still have the competitive spirit. I still want to make more history and enjoy myself on the tour. I still hope to inspire many young people to watch tennis, play tennis.

“Those are some of the reasons why I still keep on going. Grand Slams are the pillars of our sport. They are ‘the’ most important historical tennis events that we have. So if you don't get pumped and inspired to play your best tennis at Grand Slams, it's hard to do that anywhere else.”

Jack Draper admits he endured a difficult week after the controversy surrounding the ending to his win over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open.

The umpire failed to spot the ball bouncing the floor before Draper hit it, with the Brit claiming to have been unsure himself.

"It's slowly moving on," Draper told the BBC. "It was difficult for four or five days afterwards - it was the first time I've experienced criticism and [had] my integrity questioned as an athlete.

"For me it's one of the most important things to be honest, do the right thing, be a good person - more than just a good tennis player."

Carlos Alcaraz insists he will be 100 per cent fit for his US Open clash with Li Tu on Wednesday despite suffering an injury scare.

The Spaniard called off a practice session on Saturday after twisting his ankle.

“I just stopped my practice for precaution. I didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep practising just in case if everything is going to be worse,” Alcaraz said on Sunday.

“A few hours later, I feel good. Tomorrow I will try to be practising again without thinking about it.

“I wasn’t worried at all for my US Open participation. I was angry because I don’t want to stop the practice, to respect Cerundolo as well.

“Tomorrow or in two days I’m going to be my at 100 per cent, for sure. It’s about time.”

Novak Djokovic has been told he must be careful at the US Open after opting against playing a hard-court tournament before the Grand Slam begins.

Djokovic’s last competitive outing was at the Olympics earlier this month, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander told Eurosport: "Novak isn't even playing a tournament on hard court before the US Open. That hasn't happened in, I don't know how long, especially when it's his decision to not to.

“But the one thing that really helps when you don't play a tournament on that same surface before a major is the focus of that player in the first few rounds. So I think Novak, he knows that he is good enough, but he also knows that he has to be careful even though it's on his favourite surface.”

Hello and welcome to coverage of the US Open.

We'll have all the latest updates as some of tennis's biggest stars walk on court in New York.

So stay tuned...